Are We Obsessed with Our Pets?

A colleague called to my attention a provocative article in World Magazine regarding Americans’ devotion to their pets. The author of the piece told of a veterinarian who likes to ask people if, given the choice between saving the life of a stranger in a burning building or their beloved pet, which one would they save?

“You’d be surprised,” he said, “how many would save their pet.”

Dogs and cats are increasingly becoming more and more part of the family. Take note of how many photos in the Christmas cards you receive this year contain the mug of the family dog, sometimes even wearing a Santa hat or a red bow tie. Here in Colorado, people seem to take their dog with them wherever they go. I’m always encountering dogs on my Saturday morning trips inside the home improvement store.

Naturally, there’s an economic impact to it all. According to the American Pet Products Association consumers will spend nearly $53 billion on their pets this year – up from $17 billion in 1994.

Do those statistics shock or surprise you?

I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for dogs. We didn’t have any money when I was a kid, but we liked to pretend and so we bestowed upon our mutts a touch of royalty. There was Sir George and Duke, both fine dogs, but, well, they were seen as dogs and treated accordingly.

We’ve all seen cases where people have clearly gone overboard. Maybe you’ve read about the New York woman who spent $50,000 to clone her dog. Or perhaps you’ve followed the efforts to have pet owners reclassified as “guardians.” Last year the San Francisco Animal Control and Welfare Commission was reportedly considering even banning the sale of goldfish claiming it leads to “inhumane suffering.”

Those may all be over the top, but let me ask you, where do you draw the line when it comes to your pets? Would you go into debt to prolong the life of your dog? Do you spend more on Fifi or Fido each year than on, say, charitable giving? Do you invest more attention in your pets than your neighbor?

Someone once said that a pet’s eyes have the power to speak a great language, and having enjoyed the company of a faithful dog, I appreciate such sentiment. Dogs, cats and other critters can bring an enormous amount of happiness. There is no place for the mistreatment of animals. But in our affinity for pets, have some of us gone too far?

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Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Thanks for the article. I think it's foolish that typically the same people that lean toward animal rights also lean heavily against fetus rights when it comes to abortion. I just watched a YouTube video of Jimmy Kimmel choke up as he delivered a monologue about a poacher who is accused of killing a lion. I'd wager that he'd #1 NEVER deliver any monologue against abortion whether privately or publicly, and #2 if he were forced to discuss abortion, he'd argue for women's rights over baby rights.

Animal rights>Women's rights>Baby's rights>Religious Rights

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Whoops

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

P.S I'm not that other caps only anonymous.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I think it's plain. Love your pet all you want but be mindful of those around you. 5 bucks to the shelter a week or volentering there is enough.You don't have to buy a lot of dogs. Don't treat them like soulless creatures.Enjoy and care for what God has given us but, a human life should ALWAYS come FIRST.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I think it's pretty plain. Sure go on love your pet all you want as long as you pay attention to the others around you. And you don't have to go buy a bunch of pets. Giving some money to shelter or volunteering there is enough. I absolutely love animals but, when I looked at the question I knew that I would save the stranger but still feel sorry for the animal.I agree with some people that yes animals are NOT equal to humans but that doesn't mean we shouldn't treat them like a soulless creature.Enjoy and take care of what God has given us but a human life should come FIRST.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

right on score more 4TRUTH under your ROOF!!!

Ruthie Andrews

More than 1 year ago

I am one of those persons who is obsessed with my dog. I have no biological children and do consider my dog to be my child. Her welfare and happiness is my top priority. Having said this, I spend all of my working hours, in 2 jobs, helping other people. I am a clinical therapist and deal with traumatized, anxious and depressed persons continually. My dog provides me an outlet aside from the craziness I see in my professional life, and I am fine with that. It just isn't true that because my dog lives the life of a pampered queen that I ignore my duty to help other people. My clients get 50 hrs. a week of my undivided attention. I'm fine with my dog getting the rest.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Yea people are crazy but your dog is that PERFECT relief!!! You are a worshipper of animal life and a mistreater of us CRAZY PEOPLE created in the image of God with a ETERNAL SOUL. But rest assured I see it everyday four and five dogs or cats sleeping with their mommies and daddies, as though they are real babies and children---THEY ARE PETS,ANIMALS. Stop this nonsence which can border on "beastiality very sorry" but you need to know the place of God's order of where animals are to reside UNDER,Human beings--not REIGNING OVER their masters, I've seen to much of it and it is vomittng sickening and very SINFUL!!!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Here's a good article. It explains how animals are NOT equals. Doesn't mean we shouldn't care for them, enjoy there company, etc. but they should never come before human life. www.gobible.org/.../701.php

Robert

More than 1 year ago

Thank You Mr. Daly for one of the most engaging shows I've heard called, On Being, The Next Christians. It was the most engaging show I've heard, on the topics you covered, in years. Thank You Jim Daly, Gabe Lyons, and Krista Tippett.

Kris

More than 1 year ago

A world vision child is not a pet and from what you're describing it sounds like the cat has a UTI and may need antibotics

John and Cindy

More than 1 year ago

You are so right Brother!! Preach on. Just think what 53 billion could do to get clean water to dying children in the world!!! And that's just 1 year's amount.

Anne

More than 1 year ago

Donna God bless you! You have a wonderful heart!

Anne

More than 1 year ago

Amen Alan! My thoughts exactly!

Cara

More than 1 year ago

As a Christian and a veterinarian, I was very interested in this article. Although, I have dedicated my life to help animals, I still see them as animals, not an equal basis when compared to a human life. I do believe that one should be a good steward and provide the necessary care to his animals, if he choses to own them. This does require a financial investment. To me, a pet is a luxury item. It is a blessing to be able to own a pet.However, I guess I am at odds with the current society's views on animal welfare. I do believe it is appropriate to euthanize unwanted pets. My husband and I raise beef cattle, and yes, we EAT them. It seems like our society has lost common sense concerning animal husbandry. Personally, I will not financially support PETA or the Humane Society. Their political agenda flies in the face of my values and scientific education. A lot of legislative issues, horse slaughter, for example, are based on heated emotional preferences rather than scientific fact or common sense. A lot people that propose and make these laws are far removed from agriculture and do not work on a professional basis with animals. Interestingly, a great percentage of veterinarians, professional horsemen, and breeders, favor horse slaugher. They understand and see the need.

jim

More than 1 year ago

If I could deal with pet owners, who treat their pets like humans, I would think very seriously about starting some kind of business with pet food supplies. It's unbelievable what some people spend on their animals.

sambrea

More than 1 year ago

Kathleen and everyone else who is now getting upset about this article,I ask you to please go back up to the top of the article and read it! The vet said "You will be surprised as to how many people would save their pet rather than a stranger in a burning building." This is what prompted Jim Daly to blog this. Please all of you just stick to that one point! No one was telling us we can't love our animals. No one was telling you what money to spend or not spend on them. That is our choice and one will pay the consequence if it is unbalanced. The point was, "Whose life would you save? That of a human being or that of an animal?? That's it! You know what the right and correct answer is!!! Come on guys!!! The saving of a life is not only in an emergency situation you know. Every day of our lives we have the opportunity to save a life by planting seeds in their lives. Are we doing that for humans was the question? The woman the article mentioned that spent $50,000 to clone her dog?? You won't admit that is insane? The Lord has blessed each of us with different resources with which we can help one another. The question was, do we do it? Or do we spend all our resources on animals and forget human beings in need? And I want to say to the one woman who said "God blessed me with a heart for animals." Well, sister, He might have, but I can assure you that He didn't neglect to bless you with a heart for your fellow man. So, please those of you getting defensive, it is because perhaps you know in your heart that maybe you are not doing "too much" for your animals...but you are doing "too little" for the souls around you. That is the point!!!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

right on score more4TRUTH under your ROOF!!!

Kathleen

More than 1 year ago

I find it strange and disturbing how many people think there ought to a limit as to how much love pets deserve. Look at all the comments here on "I love animals, BUT..."And why does Jim Daly feel the need to set up some sort of equation where the more you love a pet, the less love you'll have for others -- love is not a zero-sum game and it's odd that Daly only does this with pets. Why doesn't he ask if people give more attention to their church or their sports team over their neighbor?

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Honey cause it is apparent scores and multitudes of folks KNOW the worship of Churches people love to load With HUGE $UM$ of Money to these Monstron'so'ness Mega greed places (cause they are not going to get the TRUTH on nothing but GIVING to the Wrong kind of living"...SPORTS-it is the TRILLONAIRE reality that bemoans idol of it all, that fails HELPING NONE BUT THESE ONES,sorry I'm really not yelling. I just believe this can stop and we as human beings can look in the mirror where conscience live and do better to dying needy humanity!!!

Donna

More than 1 year ago

I don't understand why such a question is even being asked. Pick any topic and there will be extremes on both ends. Hopefully, we will never have to choose between a stranger's life and our pet's, and hopefully if we do, we will make the correct choice no matter how painful. I do think this topic is a dangerous one, and could possibly make those of us who love our pets dearly, feel quilty for doing so. And that would be a terrible shame and mistake. I know this quilt well, feeling quilty for "fostering" dogs who would otherwise be put to sleep, through no fault of their own, but rather the fault of their irresponsible owners. Feeling guilt for setting up Feral Cat Sanctuaries, for cats released to fend for themselves by again irresponsible owners. Not to mention the horrific acts of animal cruelty and neglect. It does make one want to dislike much less "love" our neighbor. And yet that is exactly what we are called to do...Love our neighbor and if we love our Lord and King, we do just that, even when they do things that pain us. I have heart for animals...a GOD given heart for animals and I refuse to feel guilty because of this amazing gift. Instead I will continue to fight the good fight for these beloved animals, with truth and LOVE.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

The issue is NOT loving animals and them sweet lil poochies that are called man's best friend and those who are dedicated pet loving OVERBOARD. NOT GOD'S WILL DEAR to place ANY ANIMAL over the health and welfare of starving and the murdering of children in the most dire and impoverished "PLEAD OF NEED"!!!Where it is clearly your passion is not among multitudes of others committing last day Apostacy sin. It is nothing wrong with you helping animals in crisis when you can. Just do not be blind to the greater compassion OF HUMAN BEINGS IN NEED, Look around and place your passion where GOD will show you His Heart and His ORDER --being you did mention HIM. It does matter what we do on earth with what we have been given to work with what AND what we do not do that we could & should. God Bless you...You appear sincere,love,joy and peace to you.Maybe it isa privilege to own a pet and even serious responsibity...but really these people are way out wanting a birthday and Christmas card sent to their dog and appointing God mother's and God father's, aunt's, uncle's to their DOGS AND CATS..I REFUSE to accept this mental disorder behaviour anywhere near normal. What is a shame is how life got this way where people take more solace in dogs and cats than they do n GOD and good hearted people who got it together and all their marbles upstairs :(

Donna

More than 1 year ago

Amen James B!

James B.

More than 1 year ago

Wait a minute! Pets ARE NOT material items like swimming pools, cars, clothes, et.al. Pets are created by God just as we are It might seem odd to some people that we spend so much time, money, miles, care, and --sometimes--tears on our dogs. But that's what we've chosen to do with this part of our lives. If it seems depraved or wasteful to you, there's not much we can do to change your mind. But we love each and every one of them. They all have purposes in their lives, and we have chosen to help them achieve what they can...whether it's a therapy dog, obedience dog, show dog, or just...plainly and simply...a dog. I don't think God, in his infinite wisdom, will question us as to why we had the dogs when it's our turn to enter heaven. What he will focus on is the treatment we gave all of our dogs: care, love, dignity, and the concern that we all deserve.

Laura

More than 1 year ago

As a veterinarian, I can tell you that some of our culture's current view of pets has come from marketing efforts by small animal veterinarians: If we can encourage people to view their pets as family members, then they'll be more willing to allow us to provide a very high standard of medical care for their pets (which costs a lot of money). Also, some of the current view of pets comes from a nonbiblical worldview (think evolution specifically) that says that animals are of equal value to human beings. I think a good biblical worldview is to understand that while pets are a good gift from the Lord (all good gifts are from Him!) and we humans have a responsibility to be good stewards of our pets (caring for & providing for them), animals are not equal to human beings, because only humans are made in the image of God.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

Amen well said which took me lectures to say ....lol you said under 20 sentences good job!!!

sambrea

More than 1 year ago

I was really very sad to see someone say they would save a pet rather than a stranger! But, I would almost bet this poor person has been very hurt by the humans around her. Perhaps she feels neglected by them. It always amazes me though, when I hear someone say "Animals never judge you. Animals don't tell you what to do." This does NOT make them better!!! They have no soul that Satan is trying to destroy! The only reason they don't do those things is because God did not give them the same kind of incredible mysterious complex brain function as we have. If He did, TRUST ME, they would do the same thing!! We are all fallen. It is absolutely a sin to say you would save an animal's life and NOT save a human being's life if given the honorable opportunity. Yes, if you get a pet, the Lord expects for you to take good care of them. You are to take good care of everything He has given to you. Has anybody even bothered to hear the latest news on the family that "did" risk their lives for their pet just recently??? A family is out at the beach with their dog. The dog gets carried away by waves..so the father and mother and son go risk their lives to save him. They drown!!! The dog ends up saving himself. Now, there is a daughter left ALL BY HERSELF!!! NO MOTHER, NO FATHER, NO BROTHER. JUST LIKE THAT!!! This is NOT right. I would not risk my life for my dog, and I love him very much. I also have two cats and a bird. But, my three kids and my husband need me! I no longer have my mom and dad anymore. It is very, very difficult not having in them in my life. I would NOT want to cause that same pain to my children....all for an animal!!! It's not what God would want! Our dog, he is part of this family, but he has his place.....bottom of the line. By that I mean, he is NOT allowed to beg for food. He is NOT allowed to eat anything unless I give him the command. (you animal lovers think this is probably harsh.) NO IT"S NOT. Think about it...an untrained dog gets into trouble and reaks havoc in a home. It could eat somethng that is very, very harmful to them and may not survive if they digest that harmful object or food. It only takes one time. Our cats have NEVER set food on our countertops. Why on earth do people allow filthy paws on the space they will feed themselves and their family?? I will never understand that. People who don't train their pets do not do it out of love.....they fail to do so out of either laziness or co-dependency. Well, love your pet.....but love your God first and live like He says to live....everything else will fall right into place and you get to enjoy the wonderful companions He blessed us with in a way that gives you a healthy well being!!

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

WOW you said it all sad for that family following folly with these demented mind-set out of the order where pets are to have their place! And TRAINED A MUST! So dirty them cats all on the counters in every food dish and Mommie and cat daddy think their babies are soooo adorable cute. And dog sitting for my neighbors spoiled beyond imagination dog---he begs for food like he starving, jumps up to the table tries to tackle getting in hot stove til I have to YELL command him "get back" 2 years old and she refuses to train him in anything whatsoever. He is very territorial of bed and growls when you are changing sheets. And I have diserned his lady spirit over this dog--SHE IS IN LOVE WITH HIM! And whoever needed saving over him WOULD BE A GONER. Sometime i get scared to watch him if something were to happen to him an accident of some sort, I really feel she would hate me forever and for that reason (I'M OUT)

Doug L.

More than 1 year ago

You have your dogs in bed. Have you ever questioned WHY your husband sleeps elsewhere? Therre might be a relationship there. I love my wife, but if the day ever comes that she tries to bring her dog into our bed, it is over.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

I hear you Doug "A REAL MAN TAKING A STAND" not like these other hen-picked hams :((( Honestly sick people PLEEEEASE GET YOUR HUMAN LIFE BACK. You owe YOURSELF!!! Or get some professional help. This is a good panel of blog great statements tools of help. Be wise to LISTEN, Don't be meanspirited & angered.LISTEN JUST LISTEN. Men want their wives back and they deserve them!!! THEY EXCHANGED VOWS WITH YOU---Not no pet animal. Hear God Speak and SUBMIT to HIS voice!!!

Bonnie

More than 1 year ago

Animals need more love and compassion, not less. In no way, does this diminish our love for our family members and friends. As Christians, we understand that we humans are far more valuable in God's sight, but He does love and care for animals. We are responsible for taking care of them. In these tough economic times, the shelters are full and many pets are simply abandoned. If you see a stray dog or cat, please check to see if there's a collar or tag and contact the owner; otherwise take it to the Humane Society or other animal shelter. All three of my pets had been abandoned and were desperately trying to survive. I'm so glad that God brought them into my life and that I was able to rescue them!

Doug L.

More than 1 year ago

You question how many would save their pet instead of a stranger? How about how many would save their pet before the spouse or child?! I think it is a lot.

Anonymous

More than 1 year ago

wow deep and very lost sad :(((

President of Focus on the Family

Jim Daly

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Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.